I’m often asked by prospective patients “I think I might have ADHD, but have been told that there is no such things as adult ADHD, does it really exist?” The answer is unequivocally, yes. It is unfortunate that some perhaps well meaning people continue to assert that ADHD is non-existent, that it is really related to some anxiety or trauma that you might have experienced in your past and that mantra continues for adults too. Now there are even some insurance companies that will only cover ADHD medication for those under 18 as if the symptoms magically disappear once you turn 18.
What studies are showing is that for many children who have ADHD, the hyperactive part, for reasons unknown at this juncture, seems to fade while the inattentive part continues. This is not true in all cases but true for many. Adults who might have somehow managed to avoid being diagnosed in childhood, now find the increased responsibilities, whether they be personal, academic, or professional, overwhelming and seek my assistance. Some adults may have ADHD symptoms that include: poor organization, difficulties concentrating, procrastination, problems initiating and completing tasks, forgetfulness, chronic lateness, difficulties prioritizing responsibilities, troubles organizing thoughts, making decisions impulsively, poor self motivation, problems with comprehension, easily frustrated, and easily bored. These are just some of the symptoms that I see, but certainly not a comprehensive list. What patients report is having these symptoms undiagnosed can lead one to feel depressed, anxious, have low self esteem, be told they are “stupid, lazy and clumsy”. Some resort to using caffeine and other energy drinks as a means to deal with these problems but it oftentimes makes them worse. If you or someone you know can relate to this posting, I invite you to seek professional assistance.
As always, I invite your comments, questions, and suggestions for other topics.
Hi Pat,
Many thanks for your comment. How astute of you to acknowledge that so many have ADHD, yet either don’t realize it, or feel embarrassed to seek professional assistance. I have received numerous replies to this blog and have respected the senders request to remain anonymous which may be related to many things. We still have those in mental health that claim ADHD is not a biological disorder, that it is related to environmental issues, or anxiety and trauma from childhood. Unfortunately that thinking only delays patients from seeking professional assistance and can prolong unnecessary suffering.
Happily, I have treated hundreds and hundreds of ADD & ADHD patients here in Portland OR. with a combination of medication, psychotherapy, coaching, psycho-educational assistance and other modalities which affords them a better overall ability to function.
Larry
I agree with the embarassment. I still feel like there is a stigma around taking medications, even in the medical profession….like it is just not ultimately okay. This does not seem to be the case with prescribing other medications for other mental health problems. Can you speak to this?
Hi Tom,
How astute of you to notice the unfortunate bias towards mental health medications, especially those that are designed to treat ADHD/ADD. Even though we have made huge strides in the mental health arena, there are those that continue to believe that if one has a mental disorder, they should just tough it out, or “try harder”. Some of this might lie in the difficulty in “seeing” mental health disorders as clearly as a broken bone, or a heart defect, or some other physical malady. The good news is that we are moving (albeit slower than some of us would like) towards developing better tools to clearly and definitively show some mental health disorders.
As for difficulties in finding providers to diagnose and prescribe medication for ADHD/ADD some of this lies in the limited training that some prescribers have in this area. While some has its roots in the growing numbers of stories online that suggest many patients are only seeking ADHD medication to enhance their academic/work performance rather than truly having the disorder. If you recall, there was a similar scare recently around the difficulties in finding providers to treat pain issues when the oxycodone/oxycontin situation became a problem. Perhaps that is why, I continue to get referrals from other clinicians and medical providers who either don’t treat ADHD or do not wish to prescribe medications for those symptoms.
I am thankful for your note and if you or anyone you know might want more information about ADHD/ADD medication, treatment, diagnosis, or counseling in the Portland, Oregon (OR) area, please feel free to contact me at (503)492-2200.
Larry